Golf ball cleaner

ABSTRACT

The golf ball cleaner as disclosed is completely portable and which enables a user to clean their ball at any point on a golf course, and particularly when putting on a green. The cleaner is configured in a ring shape and includes an outer ring of bristles and an optional centrally disposed pad such that all cleaning bristles or pads contact no more than 25% of the ball surface at any one time, and in some instance, less than 10% of the ball surface is contacted by the cleaner bristles or pads. A cleaning solution can be provided in a centrally disposed pad or the outer ring of bristles which is activated either by pressure from the ball or by puncturing.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to golf equipment. More particularly, it relates to a portable device for cleaning golf balls.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As is well known to anyone who plays golf, the golf ball will frequently become dirty and in order to maintain desired flight properties and to make the ball suitable for putting, it is frequently necessary to clean the golf ball. Mechanical golf ball washers are found on most golf courses adjacent the teeing grounds but such locations are not tally not convenient when putting. In other words, when on the putting green, it is standard procedure to mark one's ball and clean it prior to putting. Since the ball washers are not adjacent to the greens, other systems need to be employed in order to clean the ball. Many golfers carry wet towels on their golf bag or merely rub the ball against the grass on the green or surrounding area as a means of cleaning the ball. However, neither system is always desirable because all golfers don't carry towels and the grass on the green or surrounding areas is not always wet enough to effect an adequate cleaning of the ball.

Many different portable golf ball cleaners are known in the prior art. However, each of these and other portable cleaners are still too bulky and difficult for a player to carry, even on their club bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to aspects of the invention, the golf ball cleaner includes a cleaning element having an concave ball receiving portion configured to receive and support less than half of the golf ball sphere, the concave ball receiving portion having an upper edge and a bottom, and cleaning bristles disposed around the upper edge of the concave ball receiving portion such that said cleaning bristles contact less than 25% of an overall surface area of the golf ball.

According to another embodiment, the golf ball cleaner includes a circular ring having a circumference defining a ball receiving portion having an upper edge, the upper ball receiving portion being configured to receive and support less than half of the golf ball sphere, and cleaning bristles disposed around the upper edge such that said cleaning bristles contact less than 25% of an overall surface area of the golf ball.

Other objects and features of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the present principles, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views:

FIG. 1 is plan view of the golf ball cleaner in use according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of two embodiments of the golf ball cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 a is a top view of the golf ball cleaner cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 b is a cross-section view of the golf ball cleaner cartridge of FIG. 3 a take along line 3B-3B;

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the golf ball cleaner cartridge;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show an alternative embodiment of the golf ball cleaner housing according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows an example of the golf ball cleaner according to yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show two embodiments of the underside of the golf ball cleaner of FIG. 5 according to the invention;

FIG. 7A shows the golf ball cleaner according to yet a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the golf ball cleaner of FIG. 7A;

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B show an implementation of a ball mark repair tool with the golf ball cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the golf ball cleaner is a hand held device that is designed and configured such that the ball is driven under hand or thumb power. Furthermore in accordance with the preferred implementation, the cleaner and its corresponding cleaning pads/bristles only contacts a very small portion of the overall surface area of the ball at any one time.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ball cleaner 10 can be held with one hand while the thumb on the same hand moves the ball over the cleaning pads/bristles. Alternatively, the user can how the cleaner 10 with one hand and use the other hand to move the ball while being cradled by the same. As will also be noted by FIG. 1 (and FIG. 5), when the ball 1 is positioned within the concave ball receiving portion of the cleaner 10, more than 50% of the ball remains outside the cleaner, thus, the cleaner 10 clearly receives and supports less than 50% of the ball surface (i.e. a fraction of the ball sphere less than 50% is actually received within the cleaner) while still providing superior cleaning capability.

FIG. 2 shows the ball cleaner 10 according to two implementations of the invention. In one implementation, the ball cleaner 10 includes a cleaning element (e.g., cartridge) 10A which is received into a housing 12. In this implementation, the cleaning element 10A snap fits into housing 12 with a rib 16A being received in a corresponding notch on the internal surface of the housing 12 (not shown).

Alternatively, the cleaning element (e.g., cartridge) 10B can be threaded 16B such that it screws into a corresponding thread within the housing. Thus, with both the snap in (10A) and screw in (10B) cleaning elements, the user can replace the same while retaining the same housing 12. As shown, and will be described in more detail below, the housing 12 can include other gold related equipment. For example, a ball marker 14 can be releasably connected to the back or sides of the housing 12.

FIGS. 3A-3C depict the cartridge 10 according to various implementations. In one preferred embodiment show in FIG. 3A, the cartridge 10 includes a centrally disposed cleaning pad 34 and a series of bristles or pads 32 along an upper circumference of the cartridge 10. In this configuration, the golf ball cleaner does not contact more than 25% of the outer ball surface at anyone one time, and in fact, contacts significantly less that 25%. This allows the golf ball cleaner of the present invention to be more portable and significantly less cumbersome than all other known ball cleaners.

FIG. 3B shows a cross-section of one embodiment of the ball cleaner cartridge 10 showing the bristles 32 along an upper edge with the centrally disposed pad 34 as shown. In one implementation, the pad 34 can include a bladder 36 for containing a cleaning fluid. Thus, in one implementation, the user could puncture the pad 34 to allow the release of the cleaning fluid, or alternatively the pad 34 can be configured such that the pressure of the ball on the same would cause the contained cleaning fluid 36 to be slowly dispensed. In another implementation, the pad 34 can be in liquid communication with the inside 38 of the cartridge housing which can be used to contain the cleaning fluid or could be configured to be refillable so that the user could add more cleaning fluid once the existing fluid has been used or has dried up.

FIG. 3C shows an alternative implementation of the cartridge 10 where the side walls have a predetermined curvature C that enables bristles 32 to contact the ball in preferred configuration. Ideally, the bristles 32 should contact the ball such that they are substantially perpendicular to the point of contact with the ball. By implementing a curvature C that is opposite in curvature of the sphere of the ball, it allows a central portion of the bristles 32 to contact the ball at a substantially perpendicular angle thereto. In this manner, the peripheral portions of the bristles will contact the ball at angles other than perpendicular and will provide improved cleaning capability with the smaller surface area contact with the ball.

As described with respect to the embodiments in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the pad 34 can also include a cleaning solution 36 which can be dispensed by piercing the same, or by applied pressure from the ball.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, the cleaning bristles 34 and/or pad 34 are configured such that when the ball is positioned within the cleaner, the bristles and/or pad contact no more than 25% of ball at any given time, while cleaning the same. In other implementations, the percentage of ball contact with the cleaning bristles can be in a range of 5%-25% of the total surface area of the ball sphere.

FIGS. 4A and 4B shows the housing 12 according to one preferred embodiment. In this configuration, a ball marker 14 is releasably attached to the outer surface of the housing 12. This releasable attachment can be magnetic, snap, or any other releasable means. As is common to ball markers, a company logo or other indicia can be put on the ball marker 14.

FIGS. 5, 6A and 6B shows the ball cleaning element 10A as a standalone cleaner. In this embodiment, the housing 12 can be eliminated and the underside of the cleaning element 10A can be configured with magnets 62A or 62B (FIGS. 6A and 6B), or other releasable means to hold a ball marker as shown above in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In another implementation, it is contemplated that the housing 12 or cleaning element 10 includes spring loaded chain or other extendible tether to allow the user to maintain a connection to, for example, club bag or belt, while still enabling the use of the ball cleaner as intended by the present invention.

FIG. 7A shows an alternative ball cleaner 70 according to an embodiment of the invention. Here, the ball cleaner 7 is essentially a ring having an upper circumferential angled surface 72 with a pad or bristles 74 positioned therearound. As shown in the cross section view of FIG. 7B, the ball 1 sits in the cleaner 70 such that the bristles 74 engage the ball so as to not prevent the rotation of the ball while disposed therein. The angle of engagement of the bristles with the ball is preferably such that the bristles contact the ball without interfering with the free rotation of the ball while resting on upper circumferential angled edge/surface.

In this embodiment, the bristles/pad 74 can be a dry cleaning type pad and the user can either add a cleaning solution or use the cleaner without the same.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show an example of a ball mark repair tool 80 having means for securing itself to its owner's person or their club bag, for example, a belt clip 84. In one implementation of the invention, the ball mark repair tool will include internal magnets 86 which would be configured to align with magnets in the housing (for example., see FIGS. 6A and 6B). In this configuration, and as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B the housing 12 or cleaning element 10 can be magnetically secured to the ball mark repair tool 80.

In other contemplated embodiments, the bristles 32, 74 could be connected to a motorized system which rotates or agitates the bristles to provide additional cleaning action. For example, the agitation of the bristles could be in the form of ultrasonic agitation. Alternatively, the cleaner could include individual rotating bristles, groups of rotating bristles and/or a combination of rotating and non rotating groups of bristles.

While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the present principles, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the same. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or implementation of the present principles may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or implementation as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

1. A golf ball cleaner comprising: a cleaning element having an concave ball receiving portion configured to receive and support less than half of the golf ball sphere, the concave ball receiving portion having an upper edge and a bottom; and a cleaning pad disposed at the bottom of the cleaning element such that the cleaning pad contacts less than 25% of an overall surface area of the golf ball.
 2. The golf ball cleaner of claim 1, further comprising cleaning bristles disposed around the upper edge of the concave ball receiving portion of the cleaning element.
 3. The golf ball cleaner of claim 1, wherein said cleaning pad further comprises cleaning solution contained therein, said cleaning solution being selectively dispensed from the cleaning pad under pressure from the gold ball.
 4. The golf ball cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a housing for receiving the cleaning element, said housing having connection means for connecting the golf ball cleaner to one of a users golf bag or a user's belt.
 5. The golf ball cleaner of claim 4, further comprising a golf ball marker releasably attached to the housing.
 6. The golf ball cleaner of claim 4, further comprising a ball mark repair tool having a belt clip on one side and flat receiving area on an opposing side, said housing being configured to be releasably attached to the flat receiving area of the ball mark repair tool.
 7. The golf ball cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a housing for receiving the cleaning element, and means for securing the cleaning element into the housing.
 8. The golf ball cleaner of claim 8, wherein said securing means comprises a snap fit.
 9. The golf ball cleaner of claim 8, wherein said securing means comprises a mating threaded configuration on the cleaning element and the housing.
 10. A golf ball cleaner comprising: a housing; and a cleaning element configured to be inserted and retained within said housing, said cleaning element having a cleaning pad disposed at the bottom of the cleaning element such that the cleaning pad contacts less than 25% of an overall surface area of the golf ball, said cleaning element having a circumference defining a ball receiving portion, the ball receiving portion being configured to receive and support less than half of the surface area of the golf ball. 